#mouse. event recap

[veilxstars]

EVENT 01; PUMPKIN PALOOZA

Welcome to Pumpkin Palooza, Cardinal Hill’s enchanting autumn festival! The town square bursts with carved pumpkins, warm cider, and festive games. Explore magical potion stands, hunt for hidden treasures, and enjoy local crafts and treats. Join the fun and discover the delightful surprises waiting for you at this year’s Pumpkin Palooza!

feel free to use the below as locations/activities in your threads. these are all the things that my characters are offering to the event itself.

Scout Proctor (located at the Maplewood Inn)

Pumpkin-Themed Menu: Scout has created a autumn themed menu for guests featuring pumpkin-inspired dishes and treats, such as pumpkin spice lattes, savory pumpkin soup, and pumpkin pastries, drawing in festival-goers looking for a warm meal.

Harvest Craft Workshops: She hosts craft workshops in the inn’s common area, where guests can make pumpkin-themed decorations, candle holders, and mini scarecrows.

Spooky Movie Nights: In the evenings, Scout sets up a cozy screening area with blankets and popcorn for family-friendly Halloween movies.

Grey Hawthorne (located in the town square)

Pony and Mule Rides: Grey has agreed to provide Meridoc, the pony, and Missus, the mule. He stays on the premises with his animals and strikes up conversations with parents and children alike.

Charity Raffle: Grey has organized a charity raffle featuring items he has collected, with proceeds going to local animal shelters or rehabilitation centers.

Hay Rides (ft. Jack & Queen): In the evening, Grey is one of the people who give hay rides as a closing activity to families.

Mags Harper (located in the town square)

Pumpkin Flower Arrangements: Mags creates whimsical bouquets using seasonal flowers and small pumpkins as vases. Visitors can choose their flowers and arrange their own pumpkin bouquets.

Flower Crown Station: Mags also makes flower crowns for children (or adults) who would like to have one. She focuses on autumnal colors and flowers.

Puck Thorne (...)

he has done absolutely nothing, and he is enjoying walking around and taking in the festival without contributing. you can see him taking pictures to send to his editor, as she doesn't believe these small town events actually happen.

Aristotle McIntyre (located in the town square, at the Shadow Curiosities stall)

Memory Tree: Aris has set up a "Memory Tree" station where festival-goers can write down and hang their favorite autumn memories on colorful paper leaves.

Memory Jars: Using small jars that he has collected, as well as small trinkets (such as buttons, bits of lace, pins, charms etc), he helps festival-goers create memory jars to fill with notes and decorations to remember this year's event.

Arjun Deshmukh (located in the town square & at Soundwaves)

Storytime Corner: Arjun is working at the storytime corner reading/telling stories to children. He is also using this as a good opportunity to introduce service dogs to children and teach them the importance of always asking before they pet a working dog.

At night, Arjun dedicates part of his program to go over the happenings from the Pumpkin Palooza as well as using his air-time to play appropriate music and tell fall themed ghost stories.

Marisol Hargrove (located in the town square)

Pumpkin Scavenger Hunt: children and adults are encouraged to run through the maze and search for decorated pumpkins. Inside, they may find a playful trick or a treat.

Miniature Garden Station: She has a small craft station where attendees create their own miniature fairy gardens using small plants, stones, and decorations.

Tea (potion) Tasting Booth: With Copper's help, she sells tea (potions) which include seasonal favorites like a “Pumpkin Spice Elixir” that warms the heart or a “Harvest Moon Tonic” for enhancing dreams.

Luciana Castillo (located in the town square)

Magic Shows: Luciana performs short magic shows throughout the event, showcasing her sleight of hand and illusions.

"Mabbitt’s Corner”: Setting up a dedicated area of her store at the festival, Luciana could showcase some of the enchanting props and supplies available at Mabbitt’s.

Mystery Box Challenge: She has set up a fun mystery box challenge where attendees have to guess what’s inside various boxes based only on tactile clues.

[everybody-loves-purdy]

ivypools heart was the first bit of warriors ive read since omen of the stars when i was 12 and the occassional super edition and like was the writing always this....bad? the first conversation with rootspring didnt even feel like anything real characters would say they just went back and forth stating how they felt and recapping the previous plot events. everything went so fast and it felt like the characters at the emergency gathering were just charicatures... jayfeather snaps, tigerheartstar is aggressive, leafstar says something wise, dovewing is sweet. everyone felt like they were reading lines. it was clear that everyone would have to go for the plot so everyone just kind of repeated each other for a while. even ivypool was like i miss bristlefrost...bc shes GONE. she was my daughter, she had four paws and a tail, she had gray fur, she was an apprentice. one time she caught a mouse. i didnt even know bristlefrost and i have no idea who she is since ivypool doesnt seem to mourn her as a person

This is very much standard warrior cats writing yes. Rule number one of being a warrior cats fan: don’t expect objective quality. I think most of us that have been into the series for a long time are here because we’re too invested in this silly violent cat soap opera, not because we think that Erin Hunter’s works are literary greats.

I personally did very much like the preview, but given that I run a warrior cats blog I’m most definitely going to have a bias. And I personally just think that everyone at the gathering was just being themselves and in character. Although again - bias, since I am running a blog about this cat soap opera.

I will say Ivypool’s heart is the wrong book to try and read if the last arc you’ve read was oots, this book is very much relies on you reading the broken code and a starless clan to know who’s who and what’s what. And I will say it’s only the first three chapters, Ivypool might think a bit more about Bristlefrost specifically later on in the book, but she has been dead for moons now. Grief is often the little things. But again it could just be the Erins not knowing who Bristlefrost was either because they sure as hell didn’t seem to know for books 4 and 5 of tbc. But again, standard warrior cats writing, it is to be expected.

[youphoriaot7]

helloooo!! i am sen, nice to meet you all :D i've never actually used tumblr for fandom before, but i'm dipping my toes in here on qsmpblr and i've been having a BLAST (y'all may have already seen me in the tags lmao). figured i'd set up a pinned post so that you guys know a bit more!

sen – they/them – over 18 i write fic on ao3 here, and cosplay over on tiktok here! if you want more links, you can check out my carrd here! i'm a cellbit main, with frequent backup from tazercraft and fit! i jump povs a lot though, and i care a lot about lore events, so i'm always down to watch just about anyone. (i've watched a lot of etoiles, tubbo, antoine, roier, jaiden, foolish, bbh, and baghera clips, for example!)

making a tags masterlist below this (because things got out of hand on here VERY quickly lmaoooo) i'll add tags as things happen!

i'll make a fic/studies masterlist soon, as well!

GENERAL TAGS

qsmp qsmp memes | qsmp quotes | qsmp clips qsmp liveblogging | qsmp vodblogging qsmp headcanons | qsmp theory qsmp fanart | qsmp fic | qsmp drabble character study | breakdown qmongus | qatching up (when i miss a lot) opq | ordem paranormal the great brazil meetup qsmp recap

[just wanted to put a quick notice here! i know i'm doing these little recaps, but i don't generally catch everyone and every stream. and i don't pretend to! which is why if there's ever something i missed/explained incorrectly (or if you just want to go even further in depth about whatever pov you watched) please feel free to explain more in the rbs and/or tags!!! i always love reading the stuff because at the end of the day i'm invested in everyone's lore, but there's only so much i can catch. :') i'll always reblog it with the same #qsmp recap tag as usual!! <;3]

CHARACTER TAGS

qsmp antoine | qsmp arin qsmp bagi | qsmp baghera | qsmp bbh | qsmp bobby qsmp cellbit | qsmp chayanne | qsmp cucurucho qsmp dapper qsmp elquackity | qsmp etoiles qsmp felps | qsmp fit / qsmp fitmc | qsmp foolish | qsmp forever qsmp german | qsmp goddesses (mine, mumza, lore) qsmp jaiden | qsmp juanaflippa qsmp leo | qsmp luzu qsmp mariana | qsmp maxo | qsmp mike | qsmp missa | qsmp mouse | qsmp myo (hope / memory) qsmp niki qsmp pac | qsmp philza | qsmp pierre | qsmp pol | qsmp pomme qsmp quackity qsmp ramon | qsmp richarlyson | qsmp rivers | qsmp roier qsmp slimecicle qsmp tallulah | qsmp tazercraft | qsmp tina | qsmp tilin | qsmp trumpet | qsmp tubbo qsmp walter-bob | qsmp wilbur | qsmp willy

DUO TAGS

guapoduo | pissa | fitpac | hideandseektrio | 4halo | createtrio | pacman | seekduo

PLOT TAGS

disappearances (TW: KIDNAPPING – kidnappings) the federation are evil (federation-related) 00100001 (code related) isla quesadilla (history of the island)

pl;fuga (fuga impossivel—tazercraft, cellbit, felps) pl;childhood (TW: KIDNAPPING / CHILD ABUSE – baghera's past) pl;anarchy (fit's past) pl;presidency (forever's term) pl;paradise (fit's lore) pl;missing (missing federation employee) pl;bluebird (jaiden's past) pl;existence (TW: POSSESSION[?] – romero richas) pl;perfection (TW: DRUG USAGE – federation happy pills) pl;worse (whatever this black concrete/evilrucho thing is)

ev;chainsaw (yeah i have so much angst about this it needs its own tag shush) ev;corruption (TW: MANIPULATION – cellbit's corruption arc) ev;fedescape (cellbit & felps) ev;manipulation (cellbit's original black box missions) ev;jaidens (the dungeon, first and second times) ev;dinner (the election dinner) ev;jailbreak (TW: JAIL – tazercraft) ev;resgate (TW: KIDNAPPING – pac's disappearance/rescue) ev;arrival (arrival of nine new members) ev;memory (TW: MISSING EGGS – cellbit's forgotten egg investigation) ev;arena (etoiles arena fight) ev;watchtower (TW: KIDNAPPING – mike's disappearance/rescue/whatever the hell is wrong with him now) ev;hatch (TW: MISSING EGGS – whatever tf is happening to the eggs/couch codes—events may not be related though kgjfs)

[zapreportsblog]

In Love With The Same Cat

➥ summary : There’s no Spider-Man without the Black Cat just like there’s no Black Cat without Spider-Man. But what if we had a multiverse dimensional traveling jewelry stealing burglar Black Cat (try saying that seven times fast aye) that traveled across dimensions not only stealing the worlds finest jewels but also the hearts of four unlucky, or lucky depending on how you see it Spider-Man’s and Spider-Women’s hearts.

➥ chapter 7: A Dance with Shadows II

Miles Morales, also known as Spider-Man, swung through the bustling streets of Manhattan, the memory of his encounter with the infamous burglar, Black Cat, fresh in his mind. As he traversed the cityscape, his thoughts drifted to that fateful night at the Jewish Museum—an encounter that left him with a mixture of fascination and conflict.

Black Cat had captivated his attention from the moment he first caught sight of her sleek, black-clad figure. Her agility and grace were unmatched, a testament to what seems to be her years of experience as a cat burglar. Miles found himself both drawn to her enigmatic presence and torn by his responsibility as a superhero to bring her to justice.

As he recapped the events in his mind, Miles couldn't help but acknowledge the undeniable chemistry that crackled between them. Their interactions were a delicate dance of pursuit and evasion, a game that challenged his resolve and pushed the boundaries of his moral compass. He understood the danger of being entangled with someone like Black Cat, but he couldn't deny the allure that emanated from her very being.

In the hallowed halls of the Jewish Museum, Miles had engaged in a relentless chase, his senses heightened by the thrill of the hunt. He marveled at Black Cat's agility and wit, her ability to outmaneuver him at every turn. Yet, he also felt a sense of frustration—his duty as Spider-Man clashed with the undeniable attraction that simmered beneath the surface.

As the pursuit intensified, Black Cat's teasing words echoed in Miles' mind. Her seductive taunts left him both intrigued and conflicted. He had a duty to protect the city, to apprehend those who threatened its safety. Yet, a part of him longed for more than just a cat-and-mouse game with Black Cat—a connection that transcended the roles of hero and villain.

In the aftermath of their encounter, as Black Cat vanished into the shadows, Miles was left with a mix of emotions. He grappled with the complexities of his feelings, questioning his own motivations and desires. He knew that he couldn't allow himself to be swayed by temptation, that he must remain true to his purpose as Spider-Man. But the memory of Black Cat lingered, a tantalizing enigma that had woven itself into his web of responsibilities.

Sitting atop a towering skyscraper, Miles gazed out over the city below. The lights of Manhattan twinkled like stars, illuminating the paths that stretched before him. He knew that he must tread carefully, that the allure of Black Cat's presence could lead him down a treacherous path. Yet, he couldn't shake the feeling that their encounter was just the beginning—an introduction to a more intricate web of fate that awaited them both.

As he pondered the enigmatic burglar, Miles couldn't help but wonder about the complexities that lie within her. Behind her cunning and stealth, what secrets did she hold? What motivated her to walk the line between darkness and light? The questions swirled in his mind, each one intertwining with the threads of his own journey as Spider-Man.

With a deep breath, Miles fortified his resolve. He knew that his duty as a hero extended beyond simply capturing villains—it also meant protecting those who might be drawn into the darkness. Black Cat was a challenge, a test of his strength and character. And though the allure of her presence beckoned, he would not allow himself to be consumed by the dance of shadows.

As the city hummed with life, Miles swung through its streets once more, ready to face whatever challenges awaited him. He was determined to protect the people of Manhattan, to ensure their safety and well-being. And in the midst of this endless dance between hero and villain, he vowed to remain true to himself, guided by his principles and unwavering commitment to justice.

The encounter with Black Cat had left an indelible mark on Miles' journey as Spider-Man. It was a reminder of the fine line he walked, the delicate balance between responsibility and desire. The dance with shadows had awakened something within him—a sense of purpose and an understanding of the complex nature of heroism.

As he swung through the city, his spider-senses attuned to the rhythm of the night, Miles remained vigilant. He knew that his path would inevitably cross with Black Cat once more, their destinies forever entwined. But he was determined to navigate the complexities of their relationship with integrity and honor, ensuring that justice prevailed while treading the fine line between duty and desire.

In the ever-changing landscape of Manhattan, Miles Morales embraced his role as Spider-Man—a protector of the city, a guardian of its inhabitants. And as the dance with shadows continued, he would face the challenges that awaited him, his heart resolved to remain steadfast, guided by his unwavering commitment to be the hero that the city needed.

[princess-of-the-corner]

Toontown: Corporate Clash Recap: Cog Gallery Elaboration

Okay so, context, since it’s been a while: The Cog Gallery is a page in the player’s Shticker Book that serves as the in-game “bestiary”.

When you open it, there are five tabs: One for Sellbots, one for Cashbots, one for Lawbots, one for Bossbots, and one for Boardbots.

Each tab has a “thumbnail” showing the boss of that department (in silhouette if you’ve not yet encountered that boss yet).

When you click on a “tab”, you’re taken to that Department’s Gallery, where every Cog in that department is represented by a headshot. If you’ve not yet encountered that Cog, it’s headshot will be a silhouette. If you’ve not encountered that Cog, and you need a Toontask or a Special Event to encounter it, it’s headshot will be absent entirely until you DO encounter it.

Once you’ve encountered a Cog, you can click on its headshot to access its profile.

The information in a Cogs profile will be mostly empty at first (only showing the Cog and its name), but will fill out the more Cogs you defeat.

The profile is structured as follows:

Random Face-Off Taunt (changes every time profile is opened): 20 Defeats

Level Range: 5 Defeats

Damage Range (from lowest possible damage at lowest legitimate level to highest possible damage from highest non-cheated level): 20 Defeats

Random Like: 40 Defeats

Random Dislike: 50 Defeats

Additionally, you can see how many of that Cog you’ve defeated, and how many Cogs of that department you’ve defeated beneath the Cog’s image (which also shows their default idle animation).

If a Cog has any drops (currently exclusive to Managers) there will be a Magnifying Glass in the lower-left corner of their full-body shot that you can mouse over to reveal the Loot you can get from them.

Defeating 100 Cogs in one department will unlock the Cog Radar for that department. When viewing a Department’s Gallery, the population of each individual Cog type at your current location will be shown beneath their headshot. The bottom of that Department’s Gallery will also show the number of buildings that Department has captured on your current Street (if applicable).

Additionally, the profiles for all Cogs in that department will be automatically filled in as soon as they’re unlocked. Cog Bosses (not Managers, who are technically minibosses) will have their Level Range shown as [CLASSIFIED] and their Damage Range as ???. What’s a Cog Boss if it’s not a Manager? You’ll see…

If a Manager Cog has a Sweetener, its headshot will have a yellow glow around its outline. Mousing over it will reveal how many Gumballs, Jellybeans, and Toon Experience Points you’ll be rewarded with for claiming that Sweetener. Once a Sweetener has been claimed, the glow turns green.

The bottom of the gallery has the  Weekly Gumball Limit, showing how many Sweeteners you’ve claimed from Sweeteners out of 1000. Once you’ve claimed 1,000 Gumballs from Sweeteners, you won’t be able to claim any more until the limit resets on Sunday at 12:00 AM “Toontown Time” (actually “Eastern Time”).

Let me know if you want to see Damage Ranges for the Cogs from now on.

Next time, we cover Ye Olde Toontowne for realsies.

-

 Oh it’s a pokedex!

[dextixer]

The good, the bad and the fandom -V9E1 - A place of Particular Concern - critical review (Spoilers)

Greetings everyone, now that we have survived the hiatus and we have a new volume to talk about it is time to stop talking about Ironwood and Adam and time to discuss something ACTUALLY NEW. I wanted to start this little "series" to give my opinions, be they good or bad of the new volume and to cover some of the discourse that will inevitably happen and to add on my opinion to it.

Keep in mind that all of these are opinions and not all of them are what one could consider to be "traditional" criticisms but rather personal preference. Also, for the most part i will not go into detail too much in these, just a general overview.

The Good

Little - Adorable lil critter arent they? I am personally a sucker for animal sidekicks that serve partially as comedic relief and Little seems to be able to service that role well. Of course my sadistic cannot wait till they start suffering due to Rubys upcoming character progression, though hopefully they will be a bit of a stopgap/limiter to Rubys depression that would not allow her to break too much.

Also, the interactions with them and the voice is just too cute...

The Intro - Ah, i have sincerely forgotten how it feels at the start of the Volume, with 101 different theories coming out of the smallest things. I like the new intro just by how weird and out there it is. Lots of symbolism which i am a fan of. It is also from my understanding the first full song that Casey has made for the series with her band, it does retain its "RWBY" sound but sounds different enough from previous tracks to be distinct, which i am a fan of. I expect only good things from Casey and her band.

The Opening Sequence - I LOVED the opening sequence with Ruby and Neo falling and fighting, and seeing the fight in first person. It and especially its position in the intro + being a sort of recap of events from Rubys perspective reminded me of the same thing being done in a VERY old stickmen series Castle:Repercussions . I liked the opening sequence from a visual perspective, but also how it showed Neo being completely unhinged. We dont need to be told that she hates Ruby when Neo, even when she thinks she might die as her last ditch effort tries to remove Ruby from life.

The Jabberwocky - I am definitely a fan when RWBY goes more into the less known monster designs or more creepy monster designs than regular beasts/dragons. And Jabby is no exception. When its near the ground it looks bigger in size but we can see when it attacks that it is quite lanky. Its constant speech about its actions in that deep and distorted voice is also unnerving. The constant twitching is also a nice effect, making it look more unpredictable despite it calling out its actions, and it is overall an unsettling kind of movement. It is definitely a nice monster.

The humour - I did like the jokes for the most part. They felt natural and at least to me did not feel forced/cringey as they sometimes are with RWBY.

The bad

Overuse of instant-motion - Instant motion in animation is not bad, it can be used for comedic purposes especially well, and RWBY has used it before to good effect. But at least in this episode it felt overused, especially with Little and the rest of the mouse kingdom. This is not a major problem but something i noticed and did not like too much especially due to liking Little and their movements in general.

The Jabberwocky - What, the Jabby? Didn't i just praise him? I did, but not everything about his design worked for me. While i do appreciate the deep voice, i will be honest, it makes it REALLY hard to understand what Jabby is saying. Some lines are clear, others are extremely muddled, especially in the action sequence. While i did like the twitching of the head, i also felt it like its a bit too "slow", it feels a bit like the twitching is in slow-mo if it makes sense, as someone who liked twitchers and their movement in dead space, i noticed this small difference. It might not matter for most people, but it was something that was visible at least to me.

Tonal shifts - While i did like the humour in the episode, the tonal shifts threw me offguard a little bit. Some of them like the entrance of Little were fine, but it feels like there are too much sad-happy-sad-happy changes going on. While tonal shifts are not inherently bad, i felt like this time it was just a little bit too much.

Too fast - In my opinion, the reunification of the team came way too fast, i expected all of this to take 2 episodes, not them all getting united in 1. Not to mention that we only saw Rubys perspective when she woke up. HOWEVER, that might change, from what we know Yangs arm was stolen by a racoon, so we MIGHT be getting some flash-backs, but at least for now, i feel like the reunification happened too fast. In fact, the entire episode felt a bit like it was on fast forward. Maybe its just the effect of a long hiatus, but at least to me the episode felt a bit too fast and jumpy. We jump from one set-piece to another in a quick manner, at least after Rubys meeting with Little

The Fandom

Of course, it would not be the RWBY fandom without disagreements and arguments inflaming in it. At least for now most arguments centered around the BB hug and Rubys moment of unconsciousness.

BB hug - Let us get this out of the way, i am not a fan of BB. So consider this to be my disclosure of bias. Like a lot of others, i felt like the BB hug was not a good thing. Not the hug itself, that is fine, but the fact that it interrupted the Ruby/Yang interaction. It is no secret that quite a lot of people hold an opinion that the BB relationship sometimes comes in the way of developing the Yang/Ruby sisterly bond. Even though we know from what we are told in story and supplemental material that Yang and Ruby have been close and that Yang acted as a surogate mother, many interactions between them post V3 seem to either not happen or be interrupted by the need to develop BB.

This of course creates dislike in many people, as many of them want to see the relationship between Yang/Ruby as it was in V1-V3. Especially since these BB moments do not NEED to interrupt the Yang/Ruby interactions, but they do. While not a big deal, i feel like this is just an ongoing problem, a long-term problem that people have had with BB. Me included.

Others of course disagree and find that moment to be charming, especially due to Blake doing the entire GLOMP thing. And i do not disagree, it was indeed a good scene.

I also do have to bring up that this caused some RWBY fans on twitter to start saying that people who disliked that scene are CISHET and should shut up. And as always i have to say that this is an incredibly dismissive and harmful attitude as many of those that dislike RWBY are queer themselves, to deny/ignore their identity is not a good thing nor does it make the people doing it look good.

Rubys unconsciousness - For many it felt strange that after Ruby lost consciousness (Can i just note how ANNOYING it is to write this word?) her team seemingly did not attend to her enough, by giving her a lap pillow for example, or being very near, or using something to cover Ruby. Only Little seems to be doing something in that moment.

Some people have claimed that she is in a "recovery" position, which from what i saw is questionable, others that it shows how the team doesnt care about Ruby, which is also questionable.

I think people are overblowing that scene out of proportion. Yes, i also think that the scene is strange and something more could have been done there, but it is not a large problem. For me the stranger thing was how Ruby instantly got involved into a conversation. Despite being unconscious she just rises like a vampire from slumber and instantly gets involved in the discussion. That moment did feel weird to me as Ruby did not even look like she ever lost consciousness.

Ending Word

There is not much left to discuss i feel. Episode 1 felt normal. Nothing was too amazing and nothing was too bad, its simply an intro to a volume and we cant expect every volume to start with everything going wrong like V8. I guess that is what partially inflames the tensions currently, because people have been starved for RWBY content and the new episode alone is not sufficient to feed the masses just yet.

We just have to wait and see how the volume continues to develop.

[journeysfable]

Recap of The Event for Europeans

I'm planning to unpin this on Monday btw.

This is the first time I've watched multiple streams btw. I did that for y'all. You all now owe me 1000 cookies (American version of the word not whatever cookie means in Europe)

Forever woke up!! He was wearing his president outfit lol. He had a weird dream before he woke up, though, of Richas waking him up and then it glitched to Ordo Theoritas. All the Brazillians were there with Richas in the center and then Forever woke up for real.

Cellbit was the first to see him and immediately caught him up on all the stuff concerning the maze. So many people came to visit him. Foolish, Tubbo, Roier, Mouse, Pol, Niki, etc.

He had a private talk with Bad. (I missed the first part of their convo.) Forever said he didn't choose to be drugged. He called Bad his family and promised to bring his color back. Bad said the only way to do that was to bring the eggs back. Then he asked if the Feds told Forever anything and Forever said he didn't remember much but would tell Bad if anything came to him. Bad also gave him a bunch of stuff.

Pac and Forever had a heartfelt convo, too. I don't speak Portuguese (yet) and the subtitles wouldn't work but apparently they were talking to each other about how coming off the drugs felt. For Forever, it felt like being ripped in half.

Forever asked where Phil was, since he remembers him, Bad, and Cellbit being there before he got knocked out. Tubbo said he should be back by Monday.

They all got a message to pick up Bagi. Apparently she was requested by Forever according to The Duckling.

Bagi met Walter Bob, who working on some tasks. He asked Bagi to help him. So she started doing some tasks while everybody else failed to complete a puzzle while lava slowly rose (Feel like it's worth noting the buildings they were in were white with black splotches. Another thing is they got the riddle, "What must be broken before it can be used?" "An egg") (Fun facts about q!Bagi: She's vegetarian and she has an imaginary friend named Jorge(her chat) and she's an amnesiac)

Admins eventually teleported everyone into the building with Bagi (after Walter Bob left), which eventually started to get filled with lava. The admins eventually had to teleport everyone else out if I remember correctly.

Bagi also got a book that gave her access to The Main Channel.

She also hates Forever for bringing her to the island.

According to liveblogs, Forever tried getting some info from Quackity. Idk if he was successful. He eventually went back to the house with fake Richas and broke the pictures of flowers and the Rochas. That's where his stream ended.

Also according to liveblogs, Tubbo wrote a secret book to Fred asking for their side of the story about the maze. He also went looking for eggs again.

Bagi was given a tour of the island by Roier and Cellbit.

Bad was sadly singing happy birthday to Pomme and Dapper. Tina, Foolish, and Pac saw how sad he was and joined in. Then Bad apparently threatened Pac when he asked if he was crying.

And it's started to get late for me so I'm going to bed. I hope this was helpful and I hope future events are earlier for you guys.

[ponds-of-ink]

Catching Up on Speedstorm - Chapter 3 (“A Diva’s Entrance”)

So, there’s going to be two chapters posted today. One detailing the event seen here, and one recapping everything else that’s happened up to today. Both should be pretty short because there’s a chance something massive might happen tonight (Speedstorm wise). Idk for sure, but I’m preparing for it just in case.

I know the title spoils it already, but I guess I’ll spoil it here too: I cannot believe I managed to get Miss Piggy on Day One of her event. I just hope my portrayal of her here does her a little bit of justice.. lest she karate-chops me into the stratosphere.

-

It was now a week or so into Oogie’s Challenge. The races had been slow-going, but there was progress. Arbee, Doctor Finkelstein, and the manager had had their meeting— And, truth be told, it was a lot less bleak than expected. All they had to do now was upgrade certain members of each team, then work on the last node itself.

Except…

There was always the chance that the manager’s latest racer would be very hard to recruit. This was Miss Piggy, after all. And a diva such as herself would not be so easily persuaded. “At least the manager is confident enough to try,” everyone figured.

On the morning of this negotiation, Mickey slowly paced under one of the Arena’s looming arches. He stopped to yawn and stretch, then rubbed his tired eyes. “How long do you think they’ll be up there?” he asked a lanky, purple-skinned fellow nearby.

“I’m not sure,” the fellow answered, checking his wristwatch. “But I know the manager’s been wanting me to wait down here for quite some time now. I hope that means everything’s going to work out just fine.”

“It probably will,” Mickey replied with a half-smile. “We just gotta wait and see what happens, Fear. Hey, maybe the Mid-Season challenges will be easier this time!”

“Maybe,” Fear muttered before cautiously sipping on his Emotion’s equivalent of coffee. “At least I’m very close to my next rank. That’s one less thing to worry about.”

A piercing shriek from above made them jolt. Both Mickey and Fear whipped their heads towards the manager’s tower. “And there’s the new thing that’s replacing it,” Fear added, his voice trembling as he walked towards his current companion.

Mickey squinted his eyes. “It doesn’t look like anything bad’s happened,” he noted, pointing to the glassy windows. “So what caused that noise?”

As they nervously pondered, the lights in the Pit Stop pulsed a different color. The rest of the racers hurried to the Stop’s elevator. “Guys, come quick!” one of them called out to the lingering pair. “Someone’s here!”

Mickey and Fear looked at each other, then at the gathering crowd. With a mutual shrug, they sped across the empty Arena. Fear met up with his fellow Emotions while Mickey rushed to the front of the crowd. He gazed in awe as the elevator slowly opened.

There stood Miss Piggy, already suited up. “My, what an entourage!” she exclaimed,  letting out a flattered chuckle. “I know your manager wanted only the best for me, but I didn’t think I would get such the star treatment right away!”

“Well, of course!” Mickey responded, carefully taking her by the arm as she stepped out. “But how did you get here already? I thought it would take a few days, maybe even a full week.”

Miss Piggy let out a boisterous laugh. “Don’t be silly, Mickey-dear!” she cried out joyously, playfully tugging the mouse’s ear. “Any star such as moi knows that a good deal is worth taking— Especially if that deal pays your fee up front.”

“‘Your fee’?”

“Those four hundred or so tokens at your Shop,” Piggy clarified, now sounding a little calmer. “I would have asked for more, but I heard that your manager was a bit… shall I say… cheap.”

Mickey nodded. Yes, that was still (technically) true. Probably something that could be said about most of Speedstorm’s racing managers, really.

Before Piggy could say more, however, her eyes caught someone in the crowd. She let out a dramatic gasp and let go of Mickey’s arm. “Kermie!!!” she called out, rushing to the frog’s side. She embraced the living daylights out of him (almost knocking them both over), which Mickey took as a sign to check on Fear.

Fear, meanwhile, had just finished his own talk with Arbee. “It looks like I’ll still be the main driver in the Multi-League,” he explained, now sounding a bit more in control. “But getting Miss Piggy is fantastic! We have extra time to get ready for our challenges, which might mean we can beat Oogie faster!”

“Maybe,” Mickey said quietly, eyeing the still-embracing couple. “I just hope Ortensa can pull through. She’s still has a long way to go, last I saw…”

[dollycas]

Sunday Salon / Sunday Post – A Week in the Life of Dollycas – Weekly Rewind – New Arrivals

The Sunday Salon is a Facebook group that has become an informal week-in-review gathering place for bloggers. It is also a place to share our thoughts about things of a bookish nature. You can also link up weekly on Readerbuzz. The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimberly @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer ~ It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog, showcase books and things we have received, and share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead. HAPPY SUNDAY EVERYONE! It was a big week around here. When Daughter #2 got engaged we were told they didn't want a big wedding. Then about 2 weeks ago she told us they were getting married on August 7th at 4:30 p.m.. A Wednesday! To put it lightly we were scrambling. Daughter #1 was scheduled for a 12-hour shift and her fiancé was starting a new job. Son #2 and his fiancée were on vacation and had used up all their time off. Mr. Dollycas had to request off. My mother-in-law was recovering from eye surgery. I think our son Kris was watching all this from heaven because Daughter #1's shift was shortened to 8 hours. Her fiancé starts his job tomorrow instead of last week. Son #2's work shutdown was extended. His fiancée worked extra hours every day so she could leave early. My mother-in-law felt great and happy to attend and one of my sisters-in-law was able to bring her. Natalie's mom just happened to be on vacation so they were the only family members Daughter #2 knew could attend. We let her know we were coming as soon as Mr. Dollycas's time off was approved. But everyone else decided to surprise her and boy, was she surprised. It was a beautiful ceremony outside of the courthouse in a small pavilion.  The ceremony was not your typical courthouse wedding. The judge who married them was just awesome. She made it personal, comfortable, and relaxed. After the ceremony, she gathered everyone together, grabbed one of the girl's phones, and took a ton of pictures. We are still sorting through them. Daughter #2 wore my veil from 41 years ago. In her bouquet, she attached a money clip that belonged to Son #1. She also wrapped a garter crocheted by her great-grandma that I wore for my wedding around the flower stems. Then on Friday, we had a cookout/birthday party for two little girls that coincided with the final Waupun Truck-n-Show. The truck show included 2 parades. One, on Friday night, with all the lights, and another on Saturday where you can actually see the trucks and all the work the owners put in on them for the show. This event has been held here for 35 years but apparently, it is getting harder to get volunteers. I am unsure if it is moving to another city or if this is the end of the event. Most important though - Charlotte and Athena celebrated their birthdays. Charlotte will be 5 on August 26 and Athena turned 1 on August 4th. How was your week? Weekly Rewind - August 5 - 10, 2024 Monday - My Reading Itinerary Monday! – Week #32 – 2024 Tuesday - Requiem for a Mouse (Cat in the Stacks Mystery) by Miranda James #Review @BerkleyMystery Wednesday - Cozy Wednesday featuring There’s No Murder Like Show Murder (Backstage Mystery) by M. S. Greene #Review / #Giveaway @matthew.uai Thursday - The Tarnished Son by Elizabeth McKenna #Review / #Giveaway – Great Escapes Book Tour @ElizaMcKenna Friday - Haunting License (A Haunted Haven Mystery) by Carol J. Perry #Spotlight / #Giveaway @KensingtonBooks Saturday -  Murder at Mistlethwaite Manor by AJ Skelly #CharacterGuestPost / #Giveaway Plus - Special Guest Marion Crook – Author of Murder in Vancouver 1886 #AuthorGuestPost / #Giveaway @MarionCrookAuthor You need to find some time to Escape Into A Good Book today! Your Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent   Read the full article

[resistanttodarkness]

A Brief Summary of Immortals, by Nathan Barrow

Hello, dear readers! Can you believe it’s been a whole year since President Della Frienze’s crazy inauguration speech? Life has certainly taken some turns since then!

I feel I would be failing in my duty as a journalist if I did not recap this historic event. And besides, this post can serve as a nice little summary of the world of Immortals as a whole! I’ll have Josh pin it to the main page! (Editor’s Note: Nate made this thing too damn long to pin it to the main page. It’s a mess as it is. I’ll make it a separate page on the site, or something.)

When President Frienze took the stage, everyone thought it was going to be your run-of-the-mill celebration speech, going over campaign promises and the like. Boy were we wrong! Out of nowhere, she drops this bombshell- “While I know this is meant to be a celebration for myself, my party, and those who voted for me, I must deliver an important message. Magic is real.”

Insane, right? I don’t think there was a sound on Capitol Hill for five minutes straight! Why’d she wait that long, anyway? To show she was serious? To check the audience for some Immortal agents? Boggles the mind, right? Anyway, she continued-

“Since nearly the dawn of human civilization, there have been people with the ability to perform inexplicable feats. Creating fire, water, lightning from nothing. Flight. Speaking with animals. The list goes on. These people are Immortals, named as such due to their unaging forms.”

To think she didn’t elaborate on that bit! Unaging! Bit hard to hide that for so long, right? I had to dig this up on my own last year, if you’ll recall. Turns out it’s more complicated than simply being “unaging”. An Immortal ages normally, and can even choose to pass away from old age if they so wish. But, they can also “reset” to the age of 25 from any age past it. Wild! 

The memory of seeing it in action still gives me goosebumps. Back when I interviewed Blake Ravitz over at the dam- The work was getting to him, even at only 35 years old. I guess Immortal powers take a lot to use. But I’ve seen 40-year-old Immortals do similar jobs just fine. Maybe some Immortals have more power than others? I’ve gotta make sure I ask the next one I interview about that!

This next bit’s real juicy- “However, at the end of a grueling war between Immortals in the Dark Ages, Mortalkind forced them into hiding. No longer. I welcome the Immortals of the United States of America to reveal themselves, and I urge my fellow world leaders to do the same.”

And then she just left! Didn’t let a single person interview her! 

It took a few days after that, but shows of Immortal powers started popping up everywhere. Every single news channel in existence just had hours of B-roll playing of people doing crazy things! I think the media bigwigs were in just as much shock and awe as the rest of us!

Since then, things have been weirdly calm. Sure, you have the occasional anti-Immortal protest, but I think the type who like to punish people for being themselves tend not to be as powerful as they like to pretend they are when faced with firebending, lightning-shooting, flying wizard people!

Otherwise, you mostly have Immortals just… Living life, but with the option to use their powers. I mentioned Blake Ravitz working at the dam, but I’ve also heard about psychic warehouse workers, and zookeepers that make the animals the happiest anyone’s ever seen them!

And the best part? This isn’t ruining the workforce! I mean, there aren’t really any Immortal abilities I know about that can help you flip burgers or run the register, so we aren’t fully out of crap jobs, unfortunately. But the thing is, Immortals have always been among us. If anything, the workforce kinda just got shuffled around a bit.

There is one sticking point, though- While law enforcement now has Immortal powers to work with, so do criminals. As such, things on that end have been a rapid cat-and-mouse endeavor trying to match the right Immortal cops with the right areas of jurisdiction to best deal with whatever powers the criminals there have.

And, unfortunately, my lovely home of San Francisco has been one of the places that hasn’t quite caught up on that front. We’ve been dealing with a rash of bank robberies that the SFPD can’t pin down. 

But, that’s not for this post. I’ll be doing a deep dive on that particular story in my next article. Who knows, maybe the problem will be resolved before then!

[agentcable]

Mouse (2021) Ep. 11 Recap

Ba-Reum acted on Yo-Han's voice in his head and killed Woo Hyung-Chul. Despite attempting to turn himself in, all evidence related to the murder, including the victim's body, had vanished. Meanwhile, Bong-Yi's anxiety is triggered by an encounter with Kang Deok-Soo, who begins to act again on a rainy day.

If you want to watch the series for yourself, stop reading! This post contains spoilers to the storyline.

In a large meadow, a young boy found Jae-Hoon staringat a bloody animal while clutching a knife. The boy took Jae-Hoon's hand and noted that the cut must be painful. He ignored Jae-Hoon's grumpiness and instead applied mashed up pennywort onto the wound for disinfection purposes. Jae-Hoon asked if the boy wasn't scared, as everyone else avoided him since the rabbit incident. The boy stated firmly that he would not leave a wounded friend behind. He also asked Jae-Hoon to stop killing animals. Jae-Hoon wondered why he was not like the boy and wished to be like him.

Ba-Reum is currently freaking out about killing Woo Hyung-Chul. To add to his horror, he imagines Yo-Han grinning at him. Yo-Han asks Ba-Reum how he feels about killing someone, and Ba-Reum is shaken by the night's events. When Ba-Reum arrives home, he tells himself that it's Yo-Han's fault. The former doctor appears again and asks if Ba-Reum feels better blaming him. Despite his denials, Ba-Reum is still a murderer. Ba-Reum claimed self-defense, but Yo-Han knew he enjoyed watching Hyung-Chul take his last breath. Ba-Reum denied it and yelled at Yo-Han to leave.

Ba-Reum reports to the station in the morning to confess. Initially, Moo-Chi and the Violent Crimes squad do not hear him whisper, but they all turn towards Ba-Reum when he loudly declares, "I killed him!" A task force investigates the warehouse, but nothing seems out of place, and no blood is found. A colleague suggests taking Ba-Reum to the hospital due to the unknown side effects of brain surgery. Ba-Reum insists that it did happen. However, the team was informed that Hyung-Chul turned on his cellphone, and they were able to track his location. At the station, they reviewed footage of Hyung-Chul stowing away on a boat.

Ba-Reum asked Moo-Chi if he knew about Hyung-Chul's involvement in the recent murders. Moo-Chi admitted feeling uneasy about Yo-Han's possible innocence, but after investigating, he confirmed that the murders were just a copycat. Soo-Ho was burned alive, but high schooler Kim Jin-Ah was burned after death. Moo-Chi had someone tail Hyung-Chul, but unfortunately, they lost track of him. The detective intended to inform Ba-Reum during his visit to the substation. However, after watching the video of Hye-Won, he became busy running around, which ultimately led Moo-Chi to discover the bodies of Young-Hee and Hye-Won. Moo-Chi observes that Ba-Reum appears to be desperately hoping that Yo-Han is innocent.

Ba-Reum visits the hospital to check on Seul-Gi. Dong-Goo thanks him for his help. Although Dong-Goo didn't believe that Ba-Reum killed Hyung-Chul, he initially thought it was well-deserved.

At home, Ba-Reum receives a call from Moo-Chi asking him to report to the Evidence Storage team for work the next day. His head aches as he thinks about Hyung-Chul's death, but a meow reminds him that it's his cat's mealtime. Ba-Reum has not yet regained her trust, but he promises to never harm her again. As he moves the birdcage out of his way, the shocking memory of snapping Eo Bong-Yi's body and tossing her out of the window resurfaces. The next day, Ba-Reum discovers that the bird was found dead outside his window. Some children had given it a proper burial.

Ba-Reum is now convinced that what happened with Hyung-Chul was also real. He heads to the warehouse. Upon pulling a tarp off a mound of materials, Ba-Reum discovers a scorch mark on the ground in the exact spot where he remembered kicking down a barrel of fire. This confirms that it was not just a hallucination. The question remains: who cleaned up the scene of the crime? On the night of the incident, an individual waited for Ba-Reum to leave before taking Hyung-Chul's body and meticulously cleaning up the area. While watching Ba-Reum, the man with the "OZ" tattoo on his finger calls someone and says, "I think he noticed. What should I do?"

Ba-Reum, determined to do the right thing even if he is deemed mentally ill, heads to the police station. While on his way, an elderly man trips, causing them both to tumble to the ground. Upon arriving at the station, Ba-Reum receives a call from a stranger asking, "Are you thinking of turning yourself in, Jung Ba-Reum?" Ba-Reum realizes that his phone must have been switched during the earlier collision. Ba-Reum agrees to meet the elderly man who somehow knows about the brain surgery and Hyung-Chul's disappearance.

However, at the meeting place, he is knocked out with chloroform and wakes up in an unfamiliar location. The old man reveals himself to be Daniel LEe, who Ba-Reum thought was dead. Daniel deflects questions about himself and redirects the conversation towards Hyung-Chul, who everyone believes was smuggled to the Philippines by boat. Daniel implies that they only made it appear that way - Hyung-Chul did board the boat, but is likely dead.

The professor wants to know how Ba-Reum felt while killing him. Ba-Reum claims it was self-defense, but Daniel urges him to be honest, knowing that he experienced a pleasure he didn't know existed. Ba-Reum's brain is being slowly consumed by Yo-Han's. Now that he has killed someone, Yo-Han's murderous switch has been flipped, and the urge to kill will only continue to grow. Treatment will not help this addiction.

Daniel suggests reducing his violent tendencies by eliminating the top 1% of psychopaths, which would save innocent lives. Ba-Reum only needs to provide their DNA for Daniel to confirm their predatory status. The police officer yells that Daniel is crazy and vows to turn him in, but Daniel points out that it's hard to believe without a body or evidence. Even if someone believed Ba-Reum's story about Yo-Han's brain merging with his, he would only end up becoming a science experiment. Daniel returns Ba-Reum's phone and warns him that if he ignores the urge, the time between his murderous switch flipping will shorten, and he'll end up killing his loved ones first.

The following day, Shin Sang discovers Ba-Reum in his new position while delivering evidence. Ba-Reum assumes that Shin Sang is going on a blind date because he looks particularly well-dressed, but he is actually a guest on tonight's episode of "Sherlock Hong-Joo", which is returning to the air. After grabbing an outdated bill in a plastic bag to buy drinks with, he received an earful from Moo-Chi. Didn't he learn from the coffee mix incident? The bill was given to Moo-Chi by a child named Bong-Yi as a retainer fee to kill a bad guy.

The latest episode of "Sherlock Hong-Joo" concludes smoothly, and next week's episode will focus on sexual offenses against children as the one-year anniversary of Kang Deok-Soo's release approaches. Shin Sang, a child psychology major, offers to return as a guest and mentions that Moo-Chi was responsible for putting Deok-Soo behind bars and is close to one of the victims. Hong-Joo realizes that she must have been the person Moo-Chi wanted her to take in.

Bong-Yi's words reached the alcoholic mother, who sent her daughter Yoo-Na to live with her father temporarily. Yoo-Na takes her mother's phone and is instructed to contact Bong-Yi if she wants to chat, while Deok-Soo lurks in the shadows.

Ba-Reum is called to Bong-Yi's workplace and finds her drunk. She cups his face in her hands, squeezes his cheeks, and pouts. Bong-Yi's boss informs Ba-Reum that an old classmate appeared and taunted her about a case, calling her pitiful, which led to a fight. Ba-Reum brings Bong-Yi back to her place and gently tucks her in. Ba-Reum caressed her hair but felt the urge to wrap his hands around her neck. He fought against it, but spooked by his own actions, he left in a rush. He was frustrated that Daniel's worods were ringing true.

Bong-Yi wakes up and cringes in embarrassment, remembering her outburst. She runs out to bring Ba-Reum his forgotten phone, but he is too lost in thought to hear her across the street. At the crosswalk, Deok-Soo passes her and whispers something in her ear. Hong-Joo witnesses this while stopped at the light and runs out to help Bong-Yi up. Ba-Reum also sees this and remembers that Halmoni trusted him to take care of Bong-Yi. He decides to wipe Deok-Soo's spit with a handkerchief.

After escorting Bong-Yi home, Hong-Joo is accused of exploiting victims for a good headline. The PD clarifies that she is not there to cover a story and was only concerned about Bong-Yi because of Moo-Chi, who suggested they live together. Bong-Yi explodes, asking why she should do that. Deok-Soo is the criminal, so why should she keep running? Exhausted, Bong-Yi kicks Hong-Joo out and claims she will take care of herself.

The next morning, Hong-Joo visits Moo-Chi to inform him of what happened and provides the dash cam footage. Moo-Chi is enraged, but the probation officers claim that Deok-Soo is acting lawfully and that a victim's restraining order does not apply to him.

Ba-Reum wipes Deok-Soo's spit off a new toothbrush and gives it, along with his colleagues' toothbrushes, to Daniel as a test to identify the psychopath gene. Daniel correctly identifies the toothbrush and warns Ba-Reum that he must be stopped. A psychopathic predator will commit the same crime no matter what and will only get worse as they evolve.

Ba-Reum found Bong-Yi's case in the database and watched a video of her giving a statement as a child. She was battered from the assault. Bong-Yi was sent to get more makgeolli for Halmoni, and that's where Deok-Soo first saw her. Deok-Soo left before Bong-Yi. On the rainy night, Bong-Yi found an abandoned puppy and tried to help it. Deok-Soo attacked her. Ba-Reum remembers how Bong-Yi had cried about the puppy in Halmoni's arms the previous year. Moo-Chi saved Bong-Yi and arrested Deok-Soo. However, in court, the sex offender claimed that he was too drunk and would never commit such a heinous crime.

Kang Deok-Soo received a ten-year prison sentence. The court acknowledged his reduced emotional and physical capacity. This decision made Halmoni extremely angry. Ba-Reum sheds a tear while reading about the situation, feeling upset.

Ba-Reum visits Bong-Yi to check on her. While thinking about what Deok-Soo whispered to her, "I think about you when it rains," she uses up her energy boxing. Moo-Chi remembers the young Bong-Yi who gave him a 1,000 won bill and decides to fulfill his promise to kill Deok-Soo upon his release. Both men go to Deok-Soo's place, but Ba-Reum gets there first. Ba-Reum watches Deok-Soo through the window. He recalls Dong-Goo mentioning that he thought killing Hyung-Chul was a good thing because the bastard deserved to die. Moo-Chi arrives just as Ba-Reum leaves.

The detective wastes no time and punches Deok-Soo, who feigns ignorance about why he's here. Deok-Soo quietly shares what he said to Bong-Yi that night. Whatever it was causes Moo-Chi to be even angrier than before. He pins the criminal down and sticks the barrel of his gun to his head. At this moment, Deok-Soo's mother gets home, and Moo-Chi gets locked behind bars.

Deok-Soo pretends to live in atonement, so Team Leader Bok sends him home first. The criminal smirks at Moo-Chi before leaving, and the detective realizes he's been played. Shin Sang is asked for a favour since nobody will release him.

Meanwhile, Ba-Reum prepares for something, stocking up on tools like hammers and chains, dressed in black and working out. He waits until midnight to make his move. When he gets to Deok-Soo's place, he finds the convict foaming at the mouth with a suicide letter next to him. Ba-Reum brings him to the hospital. He believes that the atonement letter is proof that the convict has reformed and is not a psychopath.

The following day, Ba-Reum encounters his aunt who is struggling with a whining child. He learns that the child is his cousin, Hoon-Seok, who throws a tantrum because his mother refuses to buy him a cat. Ba-Reum treats him to some food. While the cousins interact, Ba-Reum's aunt watches from afar. Ba-Reum promises to show Hoon-Seok his cat when she gives birth.

Shin Sang visits Bong-Yi and hands her a taser, as instructed by Moo-Chi. He also informs her that he is in jail for attacking Deok-Soo, Bong-Yi discovers that it will rain this weekend and becomes anxious. Deok-Soo had whispered to her, "I'll come to your house when it rains." When Moo-Chi hears about the weather, he pleads to be let out, aware of what Deok-Soo said to Bong-Yi.

Ba-Reum arrives home to find that Butterfly has given birth. He grins and immediately calls Hoon-Seok to oshare the good news. Since his aunt is visiting "Jeju Halmoni" and the ajumma that Hoon-Seok is home with is sleeping, Ba-Reum decides to pick him up and gets his address. He finds it odd that they live in a different neighbourhood than he had originally thought.

Shin Sang heads out to film another episode but finds Deok-Soo's mother lingering outside the station. She apologizes for not raising Deok-Soo well. She also requests the release of Moo-Chi. Shin Sang hands the statement to Detective Ki from the Violent Crimes team because he is running late.

At the start of "Sherlock Hong-Joo", Bong-Yi purchases a new knife solemnly, and Ba-Reum picks up Hoon-Seok after leaving a note for his aunt. Shin Sang explains that the police force can individually monitor those who are not at high risk of being repeat offenders. Everyone is alert when a criminal is released, but after a year passes, people begin to relax and assume the criminal has been rehabilitated. According to him, this is the most dangerous time because they are waiting for the boundaries to lift so they can commit crimes again. Deok-Soo chuckles while hearing these statements and prepares to head out after getting a quick workout. Deok-Soo watches Bong-Yi walking home in the pouring rain, smiling. He receives a call from a probation officer who checks in and claims that he is just out at the pharmacy.

Hoon-Seok loves the kittens. He notes that Butterfly doesn't seem to like Ba-Reum, judging by how she hisses at him. Ba-Reum decides to cook a meal to change topics. During the meal, Yo-Han appears behind Hoon-Seok and tightens his hands around his neck. Ba-Reum freezes in shock.

The probation office receives notice that Deok-Soo's anklet is damaged and that he's on the move. This is breaking news. Bong-Yi, who was prepared with her new knife, breathes a sigh of relief, thinking that Deok-Soo ran away. She buys snacks from the convenience store and catches part of "Sherlock Hong-Joo". The shopkeeper tells her that Yoo-Na had been there earlier. Bong-Yi realizes something when Shin Sang claims that pedophiles never change and will always target children.

Ba-Reum fixes a clogged sink while Hoon-Seok pesters him to play. Ba-Reum's demeanor turns cold. Hoon-Seok runs off to play hide-and-seek, and Ba-Reum complains that he's noisy.

Meanwhile, Moo-Chi begs Detective Kang to let him out, claiming that Bong-Yi is in danger. He pleads with him to turn a blind eye and is willing to report that he stole the key himself. Detective Kang hands it over to him, but warns that he will lose his badge the moment he opens the door. Moo-Chi contemplates for a brief second before zooming down the stairs, past Detective Ki.

Ba-Reum searches while holding a wrench. As thunder rumbles outside, he sings a creepy version of the hide-and-seek song. Meanwhile, Bong-Yi enters Yoo-Na's home, where her mother is unconscious, and checks the phone that was left behind.

Deok-Soo carries a child on his shoulders. He had removed the child's anklet earlier that night using pliers. When Yoo-Na was sent to live with her father, Deok-Soo overheard Mom telling her to contact Bong-Yi if she needed anything. He searched for the phone number and sent a text to Yoo-Na, pretending to be Bong-Yi. The message claimed that Yoo-Na's mother was ill and that she needed to come home. Bong-Yi eventually realized that she was not the intended target, but rather Yoo-Na was. She reported this to the police. The officers responded to Bong-Yi's call, but Yoo-Na's mother informed them that her child was not missing,mistaking a pile of blankets for her daughter.

Moo-Chi and Hong-Joo rushed to Bong-Yi's neighbourhood, fearing for her safety. However, Moo-Chi's car crashed on the side of the road, and the man with the finger tattoo knocked him out from behind.

Meanwhile, Ba-Reum was in predator mode and eventually found Hoon-Seok hiding in the closet, fast asleep. As Hoon-Seok's phone lit up, Ba-Reum emotionlessly hit something repeatedly with his wrench while classical music played in the background.

Deok-Soo takes Yoo-Na to an empty field. However, Bong-Yi sneaks up and attacks him. The convict fights back, but Bong-Yi is unrelenting and hangs on for dear life. Ba-Reum arrives and Bong-Yi begs him to save Yoo-Na before passing out.

Following Daniel's advice, Ba-Reum attacks the pedophile to protect his loved ones from him.

[helloarchersfield-blog]

Chapter 42: A Recap and Weird Turn of Events

Recap: Before the discussion between the three Male Deer and Rocky happened, on the second floor of the house the mouse family plus bat were having a discussion: All of a sudden there was a resounding crash downstairs followed by several pounding footsteps. The mice jumped and Knightely came floating out of his enclave in the closet. “What on Earth is happening?” He asked. And then they heard…

[stateofsport211]

ITF M25 Mandya (Jan 8) F: Orel Kimhi [3] def. Jelle Sels 6-2, 6-4 Match Recap

Orel Kimhi's point to foil one of Jelle Sels' game point to *0-0 40-40 (top left), to *2-2 0-15 (top right), Jelle Sels' point to 2-3* 0-15 (middle left), Orel Kimhi's point to 2-3* 30-30 (middle right), to *2-4 15-30 (bottom left), and to take the first set 6-2 (bottom right) (📸 ITF Media)

This week's ITF M25 Mandya finals feature third seed Orel Kimhi, who pulled a comeback win to defeat Siddharth Vishwakarma 2-6, 7-5, 6-4 in the semifinals, and former World No. 127 Jelle Sels, who defeated Karan Singh 6-1, 6-4. While this could possibly be a long way back for the latter, who was injury-ridden toward the end of the season, this could also be an occasion to check on Orel's level, especially with his depth. This turned out to be a highlight-reel match, but only the most clinical one would emerge victorious.

Orel started his first set with a stellar defense-to-offense, foiling one of J. Sels' game points through a longer rally that ended with a backhand down-the-line pass even if the latter held his service game 1-1. It took two consecutive holds before Orel fired two smashes to start the game, but had his 3 break points afterward foiled until J. Sels double-faulted again before Orel ended up breaking due to the Dutch's forehand error (3-2). However, J. Sels fired a cross-court forehand winner to start the next game, but Orel survived with a consolidation (4-2) several points after a cat-and-mouse game ended with a volley at the net to recover from the deficit.

Since then, Orel managed to control the flow. Through his backhand pass, he opened the gate before J. Sels double-faulted again for Orel's break point, which turned out to double the break lead (5-2). As a result, Orel had the chance to serve for the first set. Although he had numerous set points foiled due to J. Sels' forehand winner and 3 drop shots as one of the most notable reasons, Orel landed some unreturned serves to take the first set 6-2, to his relief.

Orel Kimhi's point to create one of his break points to *1-1 40-ad (top left), Jelle Sels' point to 2-1* 15-30 (top right) and 4-3* 15-15 (middle left), Orel Kimhi's point to break 5-4 (middle right) and to take the second set 6-4 (bottom) (📸 🎥 ITF Media)

The second set turned out to be an entirely different ride as J. Sels initially had his own moments only for Orel to figure out how to come back to the match and controlled the flow under pressure. J. Sels held his service game 1-0 even if he survived several break points, including the one resulted from Orel's forehand lob. Subsequently, he also had a massive hold in a similar manner with Orel's winners (2-1) and broke to 3-1 thanks to appearing more aggressive, with a forehand winner to set a one-point lead before a forehand return ace creating one of his break points there. However, Orel took this personally and went after J. Sels' forehands, where the errors from said wing caused the break-back (3-2) before equalizing the point to 3-3. After J. Sels held his service game 4-3, he notably recovered from behind through another working volley before Orel held to 4-4, but his net game was insufficient as he constantly got passed every time he approached the net, thus his failed volleys led Orel to secure the crucial break 5-4. As a result, Orel earned his opportunity to serve for the match, which he did despite some hiccups to take the second set 6-4, thus winning the title and standing out by the end of the match thanks to appearing clutch under pressure to complement his point construction.

This marked Orel's third overall ITF title (after M15 Nakhon si Thammarat and M25 Herzliya last year), putting himself even closer to the Top 500. His next tournament will be ITF M25 Bhopal, where he became the seventh seed in the stacked event (of a kind), headlined by Oliver Crawford (who lost in the Australian Open Q3 v. Vit Kopriva) and Dominik Palan. Should be a fun tournament to follow, while it is still a long way back to pick up where he left off for J. Sels, who will also partake in the same event next week.

[zed-air]

OZ's 2023

______

Ch-ch-ch-changes

••• 

Going to keep this year's recap brief. Not sure if anyone reads these, but I reference them sometimes when necessary.

The main thing of note this year was my workload.

I returned to concert performance following the pandemic lull of 2020-2022. I played about a dozen shows with Pepperland in the second half of the year, beginning with a private event in rural Alberta and ending by closing an awards gala for hundreds of folks at the Edmonton Expo Centre (video below) and a sold out NYE show at the Blue Chair. More performances with Pepperland and others are planned for 2024.

I also broke my first guitar string(s) since 2011!

My radio work unexpectedly shifted into high gear this year. Following various developments in 2022, I planned to drastically scale back my fill-in work at CKUA - particularly during the daytime programs. However, through some cosmic irony, by the end of 2023 I ended up doing more radio work than ever before. My previous record for fill-in shows in a single year was 95. I ended 2023 having acted as a guest-host on 141 occasions, in addition to my own weekly show. This was not planned, and nearly all of those 141 shows have been classical music programs. I have been operating since February as the guest-host of Classic Examples during the long term absence of the regular host Mark Antonelli.

My weekly Friday night Albertan music program In Our Neighbourhood continues on CKUA. Also continuing, now in its fourth year, my collaboration with NME as the Senior Producer on their podcast series The No Normal.

Working this many weeknights has had the unfortunate consequence of my family rarely being in the same place together. What little time we've shared has been spent introducing my kid to Star Trek.

••• 

Some of my favourite 2023 music releases, in no order besides alphabetical, with apologies to any which I've overlooked, missed, or haven't had the chance to listen to yet:

ALBERTAN ALBUMS

Audrey Ochoa – Head of a Mouse

Betaboys – Just Yesterday

Confusionaires! – Westernization

Des Arcs – Masks

Downtown Exit – Bootleg Stardust

Miesha and the Spanks – Unconditional Love in Hi-Fi

Jesse Murray – I Did It All For You

Doug Organ – Quiet in the Library

Starpainter – Rattlesnake Dream

Trevor Howlett & the Cruz Bros - Self-Titled EP

Void Comp – Metropol

OTHER ALBUMS & SONGS OF NOTE

The Beatles "Now and Then"

Fifty Fifty "Cupid"

Go_A "Dumala"

Kinva - Kinva

Monks on Call "Capsized"

SZA "Kill Bill"

Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway - City of Gold

Wayfinding "Bad Blood"

- - - - -

OTHER MUSIC THOUGHTS FROM THE ZIBLIOTHEK

In 2020, I started an alphabetical exploration of the Zibliothek’s vinyl collection. I’ve also been documenting the LP library and other aspects of the collection on Instagram. At my current rate, it will take me 13-15 years to listen to the full LP library. I made inconsistent progress in 2023, listening in waves with long gaps between opportunities. Here’s some of what I listened to this year:

Lou Christie: I once read he was Egyptian. This has proven difficult misinformation to shake. Some goofy goodies in his catalogue.

Eric Clapton: Outside of his 1965-1968 period, I am decidedly not a fan of Clapton as a person or musician. With the exception of his Unplugged album, which has strong moments, nearly everything since Derek & the Dominoes has been criminally dull. I can honestly say I never need to hear his music again.

Petula Clark: Great voice. Sometimes great songs too.

Roy Clark: I like his music best when I can't see him playing it.

The Clash: Tremendous.

Joe Cocker: Great bands behind him. Often great performances too. Not always strong material.

Patsy Cline / Leonard Cohen / Nat King Cole / Perry Como / Sam Cooke: All tremendous.

Ry Cooder: I remain a bit mystified by Ry Cooder. Admired by countless people I enjoy, but his music does nothing for me.

Elvis Costello: A very strong catalogue, and consistently enjoyable.

Cream: Clapton at his best, fighting for space in a tempest of madmen.

Creedence Clearwater Revival: I've never been a big fan. With a few exceptions, the overplayed radio hits remain tiresome. I have a vague memory of their live "Royal Albert Hall" album being strong, and I like their debut album and Cosmo's Factory, but everything in between was pretty plodding and dull overall.

Jim Croce: What a catalogue he might have produced had he lived. Some gigantic tunes.

The Cowsills: The hits still hit.

Bing Crosby: The birth of croon, but not the greatest in his field.

Crosby, Stills, and Nash (and Young): Great when they're good, forgettable when they're not.

Bobby Darin: I love his work, his young voice was one of the all-time greats for that kind of music. As his voice changed, he still used it well, but it was never as magical after the early 1960s.

Dave Cark / The Dave Clark Five: Business genius, funny drummer, some of the best British Invasion songs going. Mike Smith was a tremendously underrated rock & roll singer in his youth.

Deep Purple: Finally listened to the bulk of their peripheral catalogue. Several of their albums are essential for any library. Their early Mk I period is underrated heavy pop, before they found their signature sound. The iconic Mk II period is musically tremendous and lyrically abysmal, and Made In Japan still might be the greatest live album of all time. The Mk III period (and the Tommy Bolin years) weren't as bad as I anticipated, but didn't keep my attention either. The quality of the music seems unconnected to the quality of the album artwork.

Deep Purple solo projects: These range from forgettable to awful in almost every case. Some of Jon Lord's early works are nice to hear, but I love Jon Lord. Still don't understand the appeal of Tommy Bolin.

John Denver: I enjoyed his Rocky Mountain High album, but curiously his two greatest hits albums are painfully weak.

Delaney & Bonnie & Friends: Alright, I guess. Nothing special. Early shades of Clapton the boring.

Derek & the Dominoes: Sometimes very good.

••• 

This song came out in 2022 rather than 2023. Despite being familiar and a fan of Bill McClintock, I only discovered it a month ago. I've listened to it dozens of times and it might be the greatest mash-up ever made. Maybe even the best thing period.

••• 

No pithy ending for 2023. Be safe. Be well. Good luck going forward in 2024.

OZ

[princess-of-the-corner]

Toontown Corporate Clash Recap: Toontown Central Tour

Welcome to Toontown Central! This Neighborhood serves as Toontown’s capital.

Aside from the Gag Shop (Staffed by Clerk Clark the blue dog and Clerk Clara the red rabbit), Trolley, Toon HQ, Pet Shop (staffed by Poppy the orange rabbit, Pappy the blue horse, Peppy the red mouse), and Clothing Store (staffed by Tammy the rabbit with a tan head, green arms, and sienna legs) housed in every Playground, Toontown Central Playground also has Toontown Schoolhouse (staffed by Professor Pete), Toontown Library (staffed by Librarian Larry, a maroon cat), Toontown Bank (staffed by Banker Bob, a maroon horse in glasses), and Toon Hall (I’ve already introduced you to the 3 Toons who work here).

Next to Toontown Schoolhouse is a doorway to the basement, which is connected to a set of gear sigils. If you approach the sigils, you’ll receive a message that your Toon can hear Cog noises coming from below the building, and thus decides not to go down there.

Toontown Central Playground is also home to the Restoration Station, a stand staffed by Paletti Swatch. Paletti Swatch sells Toons Redraws and Renames. A Redraw lets you redesign your Toon, up to and including their species. The first redraw is free, but any later ones will cost 10,000 Jellybeans. Additionally, there’s a 7 day cool down between redraws. Renames let you change your Toon’s name. Again, first one is free, but there’s ALSO a 10,000 Jellybean fee to later renames, and you also have to wait 30 days before you can get a second one.

You might’ve noticed that I didn’t mention Paletti’s species or color. That’s because Paletti Swatch’s design is randomly generated every time you load into Toontown Central playground, AND their appearance is Client Side. The only consistent element of their appearance is that they always wear a tie-dyed shirt with either rainbow shorts or a rainbow skirt.

Aside from Paletti, you can also find Freddy by the gazebo in the center of the Playground, itself near the fishing pond. Freddy is a light blue rabbit, and also the Playground’s local fisherman. Just talk to him to sell your fish for Jellybeans. On the edges of the playground, you can find 3 more NPC’s just out in the open:

Bay T. Tester: A black cat in red clothes and green glasses, he gives out a limited-event Sidetask that is exclusive to the game’s beta.

Travis the Trash Cat: An orange cat who lives in a trashcan, an NPC designed after the orange cat in the game’s delete button.

Tumbles: A black kiwi and “tacky tourist” who’s part of an ongoing sideplot. You can find him by Toon Hall.

Toontown Central Playground has four tunnels that each lead to different streets.

All four streets have a Gag N’ Go halfway through.

Gag N’ Gos are special Gag Trucks staffed by Reid Stock, a light green koala. all of her Gags are home grown, so they’re twice as expensive as the Gags in the Gag Shop. The “Buy one, Get one Free!” sign in front of the Gag ‘N Go is referring to how if YOU buy one Gag, Reid will get one free. She might be doing this out of the goodness of her heart, but she also has to support her elderly parents and is breaking her back to grow these gags.

Aside from that, the streets have the following buildings:

Loopy Lane:

Seltzer Bottles and Cans (run by a blue dog named Sid Seltzer)

Vanishing Cream (run by an invisible duck known as Nona Seeya)

Used Firecrackers (run by a blue horse named Smokey Joe)

The Meatball Shoppe (run by a turquoise horse named Papa Stahl)

An Unnamed Shop Designated by a Shirt with a Hole Burned Through it (run by a blue racoon named Sam Stain)

Visible Ink (run by a green rabbit named Inky Ivon)

The Kaboomery (run by a yellow mouse with pyromania by the name of Shorty Fuse)

Sidesplitter’s Mending (run by a green pig named Sasha Sidesplitter)

Crack Up Auto Repair (run by a citrine cat named Lucy Tires)

Suction Cups and Saucers (run by a cream koala named Clovinia Cling)

Jest for Laughs (run by a yellow rabbit named Jester Chester)

Soup and Crack Ups (run by a red cat named Sally Spittake)

Bottled Cans (run by a blue cat named Weird Warren)

Cast-Iron Kites (run by a red rabbit named Rick rockhead).

Kooky Cineplex (which has no shopkeeper)

Laughter Hours Café (run by a citrine horse named Tee Hee)

Chortle Café (run by a periwinkle horse named Charlie Chortle)

Toontown Post Office (run by a green dog named Postmaster Pete)

Blue Glue Direct 2 You (run by an unlucky maroon mouse named Sticky Lou)

Spaghetti and Goofballs (run by a yellow rabbit known as Chef Knucklehead)

Wiseacre’s Noisemakers (run by a citrine mouse by the name of Will Wiseacre)

Movie Multiplex (no shopkeeper)

14 Karat Goldfish (run by a maroon duck known as Sharky Jones)

News for the Amused (run by an aqua pig by the name of Paige Arthur)

Punchline Place:

Sofa Whoopee Cushions (run by a coral duck by the name of Nancy Gas)

Inflatable Wrecking Balls (run by a purple rabbit known as Big Bruce)

The Karnival Kid (vacant)

Dr. Pulyurleg, Chiropractor (Dr. Pulyurleg is a yellow cat)

Toontown Mess Hall (run by a yellow rabbit named Chef E.Z. Bake)

Barely Palatable Pasta (run by a pink bat named Crunchy Alfredo)

Hardy Harr Seminars (run by a pink mouse named Dr. Sensitive)

The Punch Line Gym (run by a tan mouse named Franz Neckvein)

Toontown Theater (empty)

Funny Bone Emergency Room (run by a lavender cat named Nurse Nancy)

Phony Baloney (run by a slate blue dog named Tony Maroni)

Zippy’s Zingers (Zippy is a sea green dog)

The Flying Pie (run by a tan horse named Ned Slinger)

Professor Wiggle’s House of Giggles (Professor Wiggle is a red cat)

Rubber Chicken Sandwiches (run by a slate blue cat named Chewy Morsel)

Punchline Movie Palace (vacant)

Sundae Funnies Ice Cream (run by a green cat named Cindy Sprinkles)

Silly Street:

Impractical Jokes (run by a slate blue dog named T.P. Rolle)

All Smiles Tooth Repair (run by a green koala named Dentist Daniel)

Hogwash and Dry (run by a lime kangaroo named Sir Babbles a Lot)

One-Liner Miners (run by a tan cat named Canary Coalmine)

Toontown Sign Factory (run by a sea green dog named Bill Board)

Jumping Beans (run by a beige turkey named Dancing Diego)

All Fun and Games Shop (run by a citrine dog named Lazy Hal)

Tickle Machines (run by a citrine rabbit named Feather Duster)

Dr. Tom Foolery (run by a royal book duck named Dr. Foolery)

Toontown Cinerama (empty)

Dr. I.M. Euphoric (run by a blue horse named Dr. Euphoric)

The Merry Mimes (run by a red beaver named Silent Simone, who never speaks)

Weird Beard’s Disguise Shop (run by a cat with a brown head, orange body, and coral legs by the name of Sneezy Kitty)

Silly Stunts (run by a sea green duck known as Rollo the Amazing)

All That Razz (run by a brown duck named Roz Berry)

Soup Forks (run by a pink duck known as Dan Dribbles)

Paper Airplanes (run by a purple rabbit named Patty Papercut)

Laughing Gas Station (run by a blue cat known as Sal Snicker)

Mary’s Go Around Travel Company (Mary is a red horse)

Happy Hooligans Pub (run by a lime rabbit named Bruiser McDougal)

House of Bad Pies (run by a brown rabbit named Ma Putrid): Its sign also has the slogan “SORRY, WE’RE OPEN” written on it.

Jesse’s Joke Repair (run by a royal blue mouse named Jesse Jester)

Daffy Taffy (run by a maroon duck named Daffy Don)

The Happy Times (run by a cream cat named Happy Heikyung)

The Laughin’ Place (run by a lime horse named Honey Haha)

Clown Class (run by a sienna horse named Professor Binky)

Laughing Lessons (run by a maroon dog named Professor Guffaw)

Funny Money Savings and Loan (run by a periwinkle duck named Woody Nickel)

Used Clown Cars (run by a citrine duck named Loony Louis)

Tee-Hee Tea Shop (run by a slate blue cat named Madame Chuckle)

Frank’s Pranks (run by a maroon rabbit named Frank Furter)

Toontown Playhouse (vacant)

Monkey Tricks (run by a lime monkey named Harry Ape)

Joy Buzzers to the World (run by a periwinkle rabbit named Joy Buzzer)

Muldoon’s Maroon Balloons (Muldoon is a red dog)

Canned Bottles (run by a maroon cat named Spamonia Biggles)

Wacky Way:

Wacky Way Wonderworld (run by a yellow rabbit named Wacky Wally)

Gagsoline Oil Refineries (locked tight, you can’t currently enter)

Toon Mobile (run by a sienna cat named Louise Connection)

Slip and Slide (run by a sienna dog named Rancid Robert)

Wacky Way-ving Inflatable Arm Flailing Tube Man (run by a cream rabbit named Al Hare-ington)

A Gaggle of Gags (run by a slate blue duck named Good Ol’ Honkin’ Sally)

Pies are Squared (run by a periwinkle cat named P.I. Multiply)

Dogs of Wisdom Bookstore (run by a blue dog named Bookworm Bork)

The Circuit Breaker (run by a yellow monkey named Professor Proton)

Recessed Is In Session (run by a black bear named B.R. Bea)

Lying Birthday Cakes (run by a lime rabbit named Chef Foolery)

Topsy Turvey Tailors (run by a pink mouse named R.E. Versed)

The Laughing Fit (run by a yellow kiwi named Louis Laffon)

The Mehvie Theater (vacant)

Green Eggs and Spam (run by a green pig named Spam Iam)

The Building Beside Me is Lying to you (run by an orange monkey named Pants on Fire)

No, the Building Beside Me is Telling the Truth (run by a slate blue monkey named Liar Liar)

The exclusive fish species in this neighborhood are as follows:

Weather Balloon Fish (Punchline Place)

Water Balloon Fish (Silly Street)

Red Balloon Fish (any Toontown Central Pond)

Circus Clown Fish (any Toontown Central Pond)

Toontown Central has two special nameplates. There’s a statue of a mouse riding a nonsapient horse (this is the Goofy and Pluto problem all over again), and if you use the “Yeehaw” speedchat phrase next to it, you’ll get Toontown Central’s first nameplate. In Toon Hall, there’s a banana peel on a pedestal. Click on it, you get a banana-themed nameplate.

Okay, I hope this was more manageable, and next time, we’re going over the Cogs.

-

The wordplay on the names is fucking fantastic 10/10.

[gertlushgaming]

Undying Review (Steam)

 For this Undying Review, where Infected by a zombie bite, Anling's days are numbered. She must now fight to survive, not for herself but for her young son, Cody. Ensure Cody's survival in this zombie-infested world by protecting him, searching for safety, and teaching him valuable skills, at any cost.

Undying Review Pros:

- Beautiful low poly graphics. - 1.25GB Download size. - Steam achievements. - Full controller support. - Ten save slots. - Graphics settings - full screen, resolution, graphics quality, and AMD FSR 1.0. - Twitch drops integration. - Can rebind controls for the mouse and keyboard. - Two characters - Anling, and Codey. - Character customisation - head, clothing, and suit. - 3 game difficulties - Tranquil, Adventure, and Fierce. - Excellent voice work. - Hand-drawn art cutscenes with basic animation. - The game takes place during a zombie apocalypse. - You are immediately gripped by the story and style of the game. - 3D game world. - Collect crafting resources and you have a full inventory management system. - Any interactive parts in the world can be done by you or Cody. - So you play the mum Ainling and you are with your son Cody. - Full crafting of materials and items at the correct table. - Your home is your base of operations, but you need to scavenge for parts to fix it up and unlock new crafting capabilities. - Store items in a storage box. (can be upgraded to be bigger) - Food and drink are stored in refrigerators to make them last longer. - You can track recipes or resources so they show on your Hud. - Your character has been bitten by a zombie so you have symptoms menu showing your state and if you have any effects or are on the decline. - Teaching Cody things will improve his stats and make him more reliable and independent so things like teaching him to craft and forage for resources. - Handy mini-map. - The world map fills in as you explore, random events can happen when traveling and your distance is determined by fuel and how upgraded your vehicle is. - Find/learn new tech guides which are basically crafting recipes. - Handy tutorial menu to recap. - You have a set of menu shortcuts. - The right stick is used to give orders to Cody like follow me, stay here, etc. - At times you need to comfort or chat with Cody in order to get him back in the game. - Storage is your central place to put supplies and resources. - Hunger and water meters are at play. - Over time you rebuild your house which then opens up new features like cooking meals and crafting at the bench. - Teach Cody anything you do like crafting, repairing, and cooking, he earns EXP and then unlocks the ability to do these actions himself. - All weapons and tools degrade over time and break. - You get fed missions over time and when you trigger them. - After sleeping you get a breakdown of anything that happened in the night and anything that happened to you like healing or getting warm etc. - Repairing, cooking, and crafting pull resources and materials from the storage. - Despite the dire depressing atmosphere, the game is a lot of fun and it's great just to go out scouting and fixing up your home. - You can break down unwanted items for materials and use them to upgrade items. - When selecting a place on the map you get a breakdown of what's going to happen such as time taken, fuel used, etc. - Full stealth complete with icons over their head to show if they see you. - A bar shows above things like trees, cars, etc to show how much you can keep getting resources from. - Use items to open up doors and lock items. - Meet characters and have multiple-choice encounters and interactions. - The story changes from your actions and interactions, especially with Cody. - Combat varies from melee and ranged weapons. - You can plant food and tend to them. - A great sense of exploration. - Time plays into the game flow as you have to be wary about actions taking time off the clock and you both get tired along with a deadline... - Making noise can attract zombies. - The game does tell a gripping story. - Find mementos and memories from your life amd you place them in your house. - If either of you die then it's game over. - Stealth starts to play a big part, especially in built-up areas.

Undying Review Cons: - Minimal graphics settings. - Had the controller not work on boot up a fair few times. - Cannot rebind controls. - You get fully voiced cutscenes and sequences then the bulk of the game is text with a few noises or the odd word thrown out. - No auto-scroll for the interactions. - At times Cody asks to do something so you let him and you just get told he can't do it yet. - The tutorial stuff is very sporadic and minimal, I never felt early on like I knew what to do or what the best way to tackle situations was. - I didn't even get told about how to navigate the menus properly and it made progress harder than it should have been. - Despite Steam saying otherwise, the controller does indeed work. - The camera is set and in a game, like this, it makes seeing things very hard and frustrating in combat/stealth. - A lot of additional inventory management like having to equip weapons/tools even when you pick them up, it feels like it should be a pickup and equip or have the option. - Most of the time you are just having Cody watching and learning the whole time. - It takes ages to teach Cody actions and it just drags on too much. - The comforting of Cody is fine in places but it honestly feels like a way to add another layer to a simple task. Related Post: DreamWorks All-Star Kart Racing Rally Edition Review

Undying: Official website. Developer: Vanimals Publisher: SKYSTONE Store Links - Steam Read the full article